A £7,500 grant from the Sussex Historic Churches Trust came just in the nick of time for the 800-year-old, Grade 1 listed church in Salehurst.   St Mary the Virgin, originally built by the Cistercian monks of Robertsbridge Abbey, is mentioned in the Domesday Book; the present building dates back to the early 13 th century.   The church applied for the Sussex Historic Churches Trust grant as a matter of urgency in December after components of the wooden roof started coming loose and falling from the 12-metre-high ceiling of the church nave. The incidents included one slat falling into the congregation during a wedding – luckily into an empty pew. The fragile state of the wooden ceiling was a source of huge concern and led to two areas of the church having to be cordoned off for safety reasons.   Churchwarden Stuart Thompson said: ‘We discovered that the Victorian nails had rusted and more slats were in danger of falling.  Our inspecting architect recommended we act swiftly as the nails would continue to fail, putting those below in some jeopardy – and threatening the viability – or even closure – of the Church.’   With the SHCT grant and other funds secured, St Mary the Virgin was able to press ahead with the crucial repairs. St Mary’s has the longest church nave in Sussex so the project was a major undertaking, costing just over £30,000 in total.   Mr Thompson said: ‘Once the scaffolding was up, it became clear that the work was being done not a minute too soon. We could see from the ground that another slat was dislodged but, once the builders could inspect the structure of the ceiling, it turned out that a total of eight slats needed replacing – all of which could have fallen at any time! The apex of the nave ceiling is 12m high so any repairs are expensive and potentially complicated.’   Even though the church’s application was received some time before the next Trustees’ meeting the Trust acted quickly to award funds. Once the scaffolding was up, the builders secured the whole nave and chancel ceilings with some 2.5km of matching wooden battens - firmly nailed down either side of the wooden slats. As well as replacing the loose slats and securing the entire ceiling, the builders treated areas of extensive deathwatch beetle and woodworm damage and also painted the irons, holding the cross beams, with Hammerite.       Mr Thompson said: ‘The works were complete by early March, thanks to the generous support of the Sussex Historic Churches Trust. It was a massive, unplanned, cost in the middle of our major reordering project at St Mary’s – a headache the Wardens and Parochial Church Council could have done without!’     Worship continued during the essential roof repairs Because the cost of the scaffolding was so high, the PCC decided to bring forward plans to install wiring for a new Halo thermal heating system – rather than putting up scaffolding for a second time later on and spending an additional large sum. Mr Thompson added: ‘With the Victorian wooden ceiling safely secured for the next 100+ years, we can now press on with the next stages of our ambitious reordering project which will make St Mary’s a warm, huge and versatile space for the whole community to use and enjoy. The PCC, and all those who will now be able to sit safely in the nave and chancel, are really grateful to the Trust for their swift and generous answer to our SOS which helped make this vital repair work possible.’

The spectacular statue of St Michael the Archangel that adorns the tower of St Michael’s Church in Lewes has been reinstated after extensive repair work.   The 2.4m-high work was created by acclaimed British sculptor Harry Phillips who settled in the town in his later years and was a member of the church's congregation. Phillips, who completed numerous large public sculptures in his lifetime, started his career as a wood-carver, furniture-maker, blacksmith and potter. In 1950, he was appointed Head of Sculpture at Leeds College of Art in Leeds and much of his work is now housed in Leeds Museums and Galleries.   The stunning figure of St Michael the Archangel is highly dramatic with the saint suspended in a mid-air pose, arms outstretched with large wings spread behind and a large sword grasped in his right hand. The statue was installed in 1976 and was one of the last works that Phillips completed – he died the same year.   St Michael’s Church applied for a grant from the Sussex Historic Churches Trust in 2024. The statue had started to crack in a number of areas and there was extensive damage to the right arm and adjoining sword where water had got into the sculpture and was rusting the armature inside. Specialist repairs needed to be undertaken as soon as possible. The Trust does not normally give grants for the restoration of monuments and confines its assistance to essential works to the fabric of places of worship in Sussex. However, on this occasion, the Trustees thought that the dramatic nature of the work and its prominence in the Lewes townscape merited the Trust's support.   Scaffolding was erected and the statue carefully taken down and transported to LS Sculpture Casting in Aylesbury, which has provided specialist moulding and resin casting services for more than 40 years . David Challis said: “We first repaired the surface of the sword and arm to make a mould of it using silicone and fibreglass. This allowed us to cast a brand new arm and sword and we were able to attach this using laminated fibreglass. Fibreglass is just as strong and comes with the benefit of not being able to rust!   “We also cut off the left arm, removed the metal and reattached it using the same method. Other surface cracks and holes were repaired, and we also laminated the back of the wings as we found that these were mostly hollow with numerous holes and it was likely this is where water was getting into the sculpture. Finally, once everything was repaired, we re-patinated the sculpture using chemicals and waxes to achieve the verdigris finish.” The statue was finally reinstated at the beginning of October. Former churchwarden Andrew Smyth said: “We were delighted and very grateful for the Trust’s grant. St Michael’s has no spare money; we normally have to draw on fast dwindling reserves if we cannot get grants and donations for projects. It was a relief that we covered the costs without needing to. We always look to SHCT for financial assistance and it’s invariably a great help.”

Scaffolding that has enshrouded the tower of St Peter’s Church in Brighton has finally come down after more than a decade. The tower of the Grade II* listed building has been a huge concern for years due to eroding masonry and crumbling stone and rust. Often dubbed Brighton’s cathedral, the church one of the city’s most prominent landmarks and is considered one of the finest examples of the pre-Victorian Gothic Revival style. Restoration work has been going on for more than 15 years but it was the latest phase, begun in late 2024, which was partly funded by a £10,000 grant from the Sussex Historic Churches Trust. Revealed in all its splendour ... the tower of St Peter's, Brighton The most recent phase focused on structural repairs and essential stone replacement, removal of rusting cramps and extensive lime mortar repointing. Additional restoration work, which was identified and completed during the project, included the removal and replacement of external loose rendering around the south door and additional mechanical fixings added to the south parapet stones. Once the restoration work was completed, most of the scaffolding which has encased the church since 2014 could finally be dismantled and the splendid tower revealed once more. At the start of the project, building conservation specialists DBR (Southern) Limited described the building as in an "extremely dilapidated condition", with significant stone erosion and corroding iron cramps which had been exacerbated by the coastal environment. Fundraiser Sara Marsden-King said: “Thanks again for the support of the Trust. The impact of this project has been significant - not only in restoring our Tower but also in engaging our community. We are excited to continue to build on this momentum going forward.” St Peter’s Church was built between 1824-1828 and designed by Sir Charles Barry when he was only 28. He won the commission in a competition and it marked the start of a glittering career. Just ten years later, he was commissioned to design the new Houses of Parliament, the old Palace of Westminster having been destroyed in a fire. As it was ... for more than ten years!

Click here for other areas Arundel & Bognor Chichester Midhurst Petworth Westbourne Brighton Cuckfield Crawley & East Grinstead Horsham Hove Hurst & Burgess Hill Storrington Worthing Battle & Bexhill Dallington Eastbourne Hastings Lewes Rotherfield Rye Seaford Uckfield Click here for google map or scroll to bottom of page Amberley St Michael Open/closed status: This church is open but not manned Church Street BN18 9ND Please note: there will be a very big Thanksgiving Service for the life of an eminent Amberley resident at St Michael's Church on Ride and Stride day. Ashington St Peter and Paul Open/closed status: This church is closed Church Lane RH20 3BX http://www.chanctonburychurches.org.uk Botolphs St Botolph Open/closed status: This church is open but not manned Annington Road BN44 3WB Water/squash and biscuits will be available. Botolph's is open from 10am until 4pm. It is now looked after by the CCTV. http://www.3bsparish.com Bramber St Nicholas Open/closed status: This church is open but not manned The Street BN44 3WE http://www.3bsparish.com Buncton All Saints Open/closed status: This church is open but not manned Water Lane BN44 3DX Greatham Greatham Church Open/closed status: This church is open but not manned Greatham Lane RH20 2ES North Stoke St Mary the Virgin Open/closed status: This church is open but not manned Stoke Road BN18 9LS STMARYNORTHSTOKE.ORG Parham St Peter Open/closed status: This church is open but not manned Parham Park RH20 2EX Pulborough St Mary Open/closed status: Open and manned Church Hill / Church Place RH20 1AF Will be manned during the day http://www.stmaryspulborough.org.uk/ Pulborough Pulborough United Reformed Church Open/closed status: Open and manned 84 Lower Street RH20 2DW Address is 80 Lower Street http://www.pulboroughurc.co.uk Steyning St Andrew & St Cuthman Open/closed status: Open and manned Vicarage Lane BN44 3YL http://www.steyningparishchurch.com Steyning Christ the King Open/closed status: Status unknown The Crescent BN44 3GD Steyning Methodist Church Open/closed status: Status unknown Wykeham Close BN44 3GG http://www.northofdownsmethodist.org.uk/ Storrington Our Lady of England Open/closed status: Open but not manned School Lane RH20 4LN https://ourladyofengland.parishportal.net/ Storrington St Mary Open/closed status: This church is open Church Street/School Lane RH20 4LA http://www.storringtonparishchurch.org.uk Sullington St Mary Open/closed status: Open and manned Sullington Lane RH20 4AE Orange squash and water will be available and the sign-in sheet. https://www.st-marys-sullington.org/ Thakeham St Mary Open/closed status: This church is open but not manned Cray's Lane RH20 3ER http://www.thakehamchurch.com Upper Beeding St Peter Open/closed status: This church is open Church Lane BN44 3HP Water/squash and biscuits will be available http://www.3bsparish.com Warminghurst Holy Sepulchre at Warminghurst Open/closed status: This church is open but not manned Rectory Lane RH20 3AW https://www.facebook.com/pages/Warminghurst-Church/326229514129118 Washington St Mary Open/closed status: This church is open but not manned The Street RH20 4AS West Chiltington St Mary Open/closed status: This church is open Church Street RH20 http://ww.stmaryswestchilt.co.uk Wiggonholt Parish Church Open/closed status: This church is open but not manned Church Lane RH10 2EL Storrington map1

Ride + Stride: church details << Back Address is 80 Lower Street Pulborough United Reformed Church Open and manned 84 Lower Street Storrington RH20 2DW http://www.pulboroughurc.co.uk < Previous Next >

List of churches and their status for Ride + Stride Ride + Stride: plan your route What's open for Ride + Stride? Search here by town / village or see list below. If on a laptop, you can also search by area using map below No church found Read More Area: Read More Area: Read More Area: St Bartholomew Church Lane Read More Albourne BN6 9BY This church is open but not manned Hurst & Burgess Hill Area: Alciston Church The Village Read More Alciston BN26 6UW http://www.berwickchurch.org.uk This church is open but not manned Seaford Area: St Mary Church Road Read More Aldingbourne PO20 3TT http://www.parishofabe.org.uk/ Open but not manned It's possible this church will be manned during the day. Arundel & Bognor Area: St Richard Gossamer Lane Read More Aldwick PO21 3AT https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/4756/ Open but not manned Arundel & Bognor Area: St Andrew The Tye Read More Alfriston BN26 5TL http://cuckmerechurches.org.uk/st-andrews-alfriston/ This church is open Will be hosting a sculpture exhibition as part of Art Wave during Ride and Stride Seaford Area: United Reformed Church Twytten Read More Alfriston BN26 5TL http://www.alfriston-churches.co.uk/ This church is open but not manned Seaford Area: St Michael Church Street Read More Amberley BN18 9ND This church is open but not manned Please note: there will be a very big Thanksgiving Service for the life of an eminent Amberley resident at St Michael's Church on Ride and Stride day. Storrington Area: St Mary Church Lane/Appledram Lane South Read More Apuldram PO20 7EF http://www.apuldramchurch.co.uk This church is open Chichester City & District Area: Congregational Church Street Lane Read More Ardingly Status unknown Cuckfield Area: St Peter Church Lane Read More Ardingly RH17 6UR http://www.ardinglychurch.co.uk/ Open and manned Cuckfield Area: St Saviour's Chapel Ardingly College Read More Ardingly RH17 6SQ Status unknown Cuckfield Area: St Pancras off Tye Hill Road Read More Arlington BN26 6SE http://stpancras-arlington.org.uk This church is open but not manned Seaford Area: mapAnchor Sussex Ride + Stride by area Click map areas below or scroll down for a list of areas. Hastings Battle & Bexhill (Battle, Bexhill & Ninfield) Dallington (Burwash, Dallington, Hailsham & Heathfield) Eastbourne (Eastbourne, Pevensey & Willingdon) Hastings (Hastings, Hollington & Saint Leonards) Rotherfield (Crowborough, Groombridge, Mayfield & Rotherfield) Rye (Bodiam, Northiam, Rye & Winchelsea) Uckfield (Buxted & Uckfield) Horsham Cuckfield (Ardingly, Cuckfield, Haywards Heath & Staplefield) Crawley & East Grinstead (Crawley, East Grinstead & Forest Row) Horsham (Billingshurst, Horsham & Slinfold) Hurst & Burgess Hill (Burgess Hill, Henfield & Hurstpierpoint Brighton & Lewes Brighton (Brighton, Rottingdean & Woodingdean) Lewes (Barcombe, Lewes, Peacehaven & Ringmer) Hove (Hove, Portslade, Shoreham & Southwick) Seaford (Newhaven & Seaford) Chichester Arundel & Bognor (Arundel, Bognor Regis & Littlehampton) Chichester City and District (Chichester, Fishbourne, Lavant, Selsey & The Witterings) Midhurst (Fernhurst, Midhurst & South Harting) Petworth (Fittleworth, Graffham, Petworth & Wisborough Green) Westbourne (Bosham, Funtington, Southbourne & Westbourne) Storrington (Amberley, Pulborough, Steyning & Storrington) Worthing (Ferring, Goring, Lancing & Worthing)